Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The North Atlantic Blues Festival took place this past weekend in Harbor Park in Rockland, Maine.

Saturday

Saturday was billed as a tribute to Chicago. Members of Chicago's Blues royalty (Nellie "Tiger" Travis, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues, Magic Slim & The Teardrops and the Brooks Family (Lonnie, Ronnie and Wayne)) held court on the main stage abutting Rockland Harbor.

Nellie "Tiger" Travis

Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater

Paul Benjamin, Mike Benton, Brad Benton

Should you happen to run into the above gentlemen, offer them (and their families!) your thanks for bringing great blues artists to New England. Paul (along with Jamie Isaacson) is responsible for the North Atlantic Blues Festival. Brad and Mike are responsible for the White Mountain Boogie & Blues Festival which takes place each August in Thornton, NH. Check out the above link for info about the great lineup they have this year.

Gina Sicilia and Dave Gross

Gina and Dave were the only non-Chicago performers of the day, playing at the side of the main stage between acts.

Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials

Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues

Magic Slim & The Teardrops

The Brooks Family (Lonnie, Ronnie, Wayne)

Nearly everyone stuck around to close the day with "Sweet Home Chicago"!

Not all of the performers were on the main stage.

This young fella made an impression and a hatful of tips!

Saturday Night's Club Crawl

Sunday

Sunday featured a very diverse group of performers - Trampled Under Foot, James Armstrong, Toni Lynn Washington, Eric Bibb (w/ Grant Dermody) and Robert Cray.